Maroons

Cherry-Evans, Jacob Lillyman (18th man), Chris McQueen, Brenton Lawrence, Nene Macdonald, Felise Kaufusi and former Maroon Scott Prince will all link up with the Maroons at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast, with new coach Kevin Walters set to put his squad through some opposed sessions.

Former Queensland star Justin Hodges will also join Camp Maroon this weekend as Queensland steps up preparations for Game One in Sydney.

Perhaps because his face looks as fresh as it did when he made his NRL debut back in 2003 the sight of Slater issuing orders to a Queensland backline boasting Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd was something of a strange one on Thursday morning but it shapes as a crucial part of the team's preparation for Game One of the 2016 Holden State of Origin Series next Wednesday night.